NCIt definition : A water-soluble triazole prodrug with broad-spectrum antifungal activity. Isavuconazole
is absorbed easily, given either orally or intravenously, and is hydrolyzed to its
active moiety BAL4815 by plasma esterases. BAL4815 inhibits fungal cytochrome P450
lanosterol 14-alpha-demethylase (CYP51) that catalyzes the conversion of lanosterol
to ergosterol, an important component of the fungal cell membrane. Enzyme inhibition
by this agent leads to a decrease in ergosterol pool and therefore disturbs synthesis
of fungal cell membrane, thereby increasing cell membrane permeability and promoting
loss of essential intracellular elements. This ultimately causes fungal cell lysis
and death.;
Semantic type(s)